Bodies of 2 Neighbors Found in Front of Separate Simi Valley Homes

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The bodies of a man and a woman who were neighbors were found in front of two homes in Simi Valley Tuesday morning, as was a handgun, prompting a police investigation.

Police were responding to two bodies found in front of a Simi Valley home on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013. (Credit: KTLA)

The Simi Valley Fire Department initially responded to the 3300 block of Billie Court (map), calling police detectives to the scene at about 7 a.m. in due to the “suspicious nature” of the “two deceased subjects” in a home’s front yard.

The events that preceded the deaths were under investigation, but “investigators now know that the subjects were neighbors who did not have a domestic relationship,” an updated news release from the Simi Valley Police Department stated Tuesday afternoon.

Police were searching the two homes, but they were not releasing the relationship between dead individuals to the homes.

The woman’s body was found on the sidewalk in front of a neighbor’s home, while the man was found nearby, detectives on scene said.

The bodies were about 30 to 40 feet apart, and a handgun was recovered at the scene, police said.

Residents called the community of single-family homes tight knit, saying they were shocked by the deaths.

“Every neighborhood can have a little tit-for-tat now and then, but to bring it to that level is ridiculous,” said Dan Johnson, who lives nearby.

Mary Bernberg said she and her daughter were bringing home their Christmas tree Monday night when they heard a loud pop outside. Now they’re wondering if it was a gunshot, Bernberg said.

The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office was responsible for releasing a cause of death, as well as the individuals’ names pending family notification.

Police appeared to hope to calm residents of the Ventura County city, saying the deaths appeared to be an “isolated incident.”

Anyone with information about the deaths was asked to call the Simi Valley Police Department Detective Unit at 805-583-6969. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can provide information through Ventura County Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or text “BUSTED” plus your message to 274637 (CRIMES).